For too long, we have been paralyzed by the sadness of seeing innocent children suffer as a result of gun violence.

Faced with the difficulty of identifying what causes these incidents and what might be done to prevent them — when reasonable people offer different reasonable solutions — we have suffered a paralysis of analysis, resulting in inaction. But it is worth doing something, even if it won't solve all the problems.

Since the Columbine shooting in 1999, more than 150,000 students have experienced a school shooting. We are raising a generation of survivors who have learned to cope with something they should never have experienced in the first place.

As the Parkland survivors have said these past few weeks, so we must say: Never again.

Leon County set a record last year with 18 homicides; 15 of the 18 people killed in our county last year were shot.

We live in a country marred by gun violence. We live in a county marred by gun violence. And many of us live in families marred by gun violence.

If we fail to demand our leaders act on the public health crisis that is gun violence, we will be derelict in our duty as citizens. We must do everything in our power to prevent as many deaths as possible.

As a person of faith, I am not concerned with whether elected leaders believe as I do. I am concerned with whether their actions and policies are life-affirming, whether they attempt to combat violence and make peace.

The Leon County Commissioners’ proposal to close the gun show loophole does just this, as it works to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who may harm themselves or others.

It has been 20 years since an amendment to the Florida Constitution gave counties the authority to require a criminal history records check and a 3 to 5-day waiting period in connection with the sale of any firearm occurring within the county on property to which the public has the right of access. The Leon County Commission should not delay another year in exercising this authority.

As a gun owner, I support legal, responsible gun ownership and encourage our elected leaders to enact policies that will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. Requiring a background check to purchase a gun and a 3 to 5-day waiting period are policies that have broad public support and will make our community safer from gun violence.

Some will rightly counter that closing the gun show loophole will not prevent all gun deaths in Leon County. But would it not be worth it if we could prevent even one gun death?

Thomas Whitley is the founder of Justice850, a faith-based group of individuals committed to advocating for justice in our community. He holds a Master of Divinity from Gardner-Webb University and a Ph.D. in Religion from Florida State University.